Vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

An electric vacuum cleaner having a generally cylindrical brush roller positioned in the suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner wherein the brush roller includes a wall positioned adjacent to and extending outwardly from portions of the brush bristles for causing the bristles to bend over when a carpet is sucked partially into the suction nozzle. This construction reduces the resistance of the bristles on the carpet pile thereby preventing the brush from stalling.

O United States Patent w: 3,597,789 U2] inventor Wilton E. Boyd2,297,366 9/1942 Pierce 15/366 X Mayfield Heights, Ohio 2,310.267 2/1943Taylor [5/366 X I p Primary ExaminerWalter A, Scheel Filed I970AssismntExaminerC K Moore [45] Patented Aug. 10, 197] A L L d J Pl t j hF 73' Assign Gwen] Electric p y llorneysawrence empton, eonar at o n i ICullen, Frank L. Neuhauser, Oscar B. Waddell and Joseph R B. Forrnan[54] VACUUM CLEANER 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 15/383 ABSTRACT: An electric vacuum cleaner having agenerally [51] Int. A4 cylindrical brush roller positioned in thesuction nozzle of the [50] Field olSeard: l5/l82, vacuum cleaner whereinthe brush roller includes a wall posi- 38 I 8, 3 21 E, 23, 5, 370, 372,183, 304, 386 tioned adjacent to and extending outwardly from portionsof the brush bristles for causing the bristles to bend over when a [56]Eden Clad carpet is sucked partially into the suction nozzle. This con-ITED T T PA ENT struction reduces the resistance of the bristles on thecarpet 2,27 l .551 2/1942 Hoover l5/366 pil thereby pr n i g h brush mstalling- Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,789

Inventor: WHton E. 505d Wfi Attorney VACUUM CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a suctioncreating means, and more particularly, to a unique brush rollerpositioned within the suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner for efficientlycleaning rugs which may be partially sucked into the suction nozzle.

As is well known in the electric vacuum cleaner art, brush rollers havebeen rotatably mounted in the nozzle or mouth of a vacuum cleaner andhave been driven by a belt or pulley connected to the motor which drivesthe suction fan of the vacuum cleaner. While such brush rollers havetaken various shapes and forms, many brush rollers have not beenentirely satisfactorily since the bristles on the roller stall the brushand prevent it from being rotated by its pulley or belt when the carpetbeing cleaned is lifted or sucked partially into the suction nozzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Correspondingly, it is a primary object of thisinvention to provide a brush roller which will efficiently clean rugswhich are partially sucked into the suction nozzle of a vacuum cleanerwithout stalling the brush.

In accordance with one of the aspects of my invention, a vacuum cleanerhaving a suction creating means and a suction nozzle connected to thesuction creating means is provided with a unique brush roller mountedfor rotation in the suction nozzle. The roller is generally cylindricaland includes a generally flat surface disposed approximatelyperpendicular to a radius of the roller. The trailing edge of the flatsurface intersects the generally cylindrical outer surface of the brushroller and the leading edge of the flat surface terminates in a wallextending substantially perpendicular to the flat surface. A pluralityof bristles are mounted on the brush roller and they extend outwardlygenerally perpendicular to the flat surface of the roller. The bristlesare located relatively close to the generally perpendicular wall and arearranged generally parallel to the perpendicular wall. In addition, thegenerally perpendicular wall extends from the flat surface to the outercylindrical surface of the brush roller. Thus, when the brush roller isbeing rotated by its pulley or belt and a carpet is being partiallysucked into the suction nozzle the cylindrical surface of the roller atthe leading edge of the flat surface contacts the carpet therebypartially deforming its nap and since the cylindrical surface is spacedradially outwardly from portions of the brush bristles it insures thatthe side surfaces of most of the bristles rather than the tips of thebristles initially contact the carpet being cleaned. By thisarrangement, the bristles in contact with the carpet are bent toward thetrailing edge of the flat surface, and thus, the friction between thecarpet and the brush bristles is low enough so that the brush roller isnot stalled and prevented from being rotated by its pulley or belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and attendant advantagesof this invention will be apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing in which;

FIG. I is a perspective view ofa vacuum cleaner incorporating thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the brush roller of thevacuum cleaner shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the cleaner shown in FIG.I with parts broken away to show my unique brush roller in contact witha carpet partially sucked into the vacuum cleaner nozzle; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows the bristles of the brush rollerin fuller contact with the carpet being cleaned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsand especially to FIG. I, there is shown a vacuum cleaner generallydesignated by the reference numeral I0 embodying my unique brush rollerI2. The vacuum cleaner includes a base portion I4 having an electricmotor and suction fan 15 positioned therein and an upwardly extendinghandle I6 having a conventional dust bag 18 attached thereto.

As shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, a conventional suction airinlet nozzle 20 is located within the forward portion of the base and isconnected to the suction creating fan I5 located within the base portionof the vacuum cleaner.

The brush roller 12 which represents the preferred embodiment of myinvention is rotatably mounted in any suitable manner in the nozzle 20of the vacuum cleaner. As illustrated in FIGS. I, 3 and 4, it is drivenby means of an endless belt or pulley 22 which is preferably connectedin driven relationship to the motor shaft of the vacuum cleaner in aconventional manner.

As illustrated more particularly in FIG. 2, my improved brush roller I2comprises a cylindrical body member and conventionally the body memberis made of wood or suitable plastic material. A plurality of tufts ofbristles 24 are suitably positioned on the brush roller, and in theembodiment illus trated, two rows of bristles are positioned indiametrically opposite rows of bores which may be drilled or otherwiseformed in the brush roller. As illustrated, the bristles are spirallyarranged and spiral in the same direction so that any tuft of bristlesof one of the rows of bristles located the same distance from the end ofthe roller as a bristle tuft of the other row of bristles isapproximately l apart from the first mentioned bristle tuft. This is aconventional arrangement to insure that one of the bristle tufts isalways in a position to be in contact with the carpet.

In accordance with my invention, the bristle tufts are ositioned on flatsurfaces 26 which are cut or otherwise formed in the brush roller dowelfor permitting the bristles to lie at least partially within the radiusof the outer cylindrical surface 30 of the brush dowel when a carpet issucked partially into the suc tion nozzle. In the embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 4, two generally flat surfaces 26 are utilized, onesurface for one of the rows of bristles and the other surface for theother row of bristles. As illustrated, the flat surfaces 26 are disposedapproximately perpendicular to radii of the brush roller 12 and thetrailing edges 28 ofthe flat surfaces intersect the generallycylindrical outer surfaces 30 of the brush roller. A unique outwardlyextending wall 32 is positioned at the leading edge 34 of the flatsurfaces 26. The wall 32 extends substantially perpendicular to the flatsurfaces 26 and is positioned relatively close to the bristle tufts, itextends generally parallel to the bristle tufts and gently merges withthe outer cylindrical surface 30 of the brush roller at a rounded corner36.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention the generally perpendicularwall 32 is positioned approximately three-sixteenth inch from the baseof the bristle tufts, the height of the wall is approximately one-fourthof the length of the bristles, and the distance from the base of thebristles to the trailing edges of the flats 26 is approximately equal tothe length of the bristles. With these parameters the bristle tufts arereadily deformed to lie close to the flat surfaces 26 and the brush isprevented from stalling when a carpet is sucked up into the suctionnozzle 20.

OPERATION With this unique construction, when a carpet being cleaner issucked partially into the suction nozzle 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4, and the brush roller I2 is rotated in the direction of thearrows, as shown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical surface 30 of the brushroller will be moved into contact with the carpet pile thereby defonningthe pile and shaping it so that the side surfaces 38 of most of thebristles will be placed in contact with the carpet. It can beappreciated that the generally perpendicular wall 32 insu.es that onlythe radial outer portions 38 of the bristles will be placed in contactwith the carpet thereby preventing the carpet pile from contacting theradial inner portions of the bristles. Thus, the bristles are readilybent over toward the trailing edges of the flat surfaces. Moreover, withthis construction the flat surfaces 26 and the generally perpendicularwalls 32 provides a substantial recess for receiving the deformedbristles when a carpet is sucked rather forcefully into the suctionnozzle. During such a condition, the bristle tufts will lie somewhatflat against the flat surfaces 26 with the tips of the bristles beingquite close to the trailing edges of the flat surfaces. Thus, at thepoints where the bristles contact the carpet being cleaned the distancefrom such point to the center of the brush roller is not much greaterthan the distance from the center of the brush roller to the outercylindrical surface 28 of the brush roller. This is important since amechanical advantage is achieved by having the load applied through ashorter lever arm. It can be seen that the load lever arm is reduced asthe bristles are moved closer to the axial center of the brush roller[2.

With this arrangement, the brush bristles do not provide an excessiveamount of resistance on the carpet being cleaned, and the brush is notstalled due to the resistance of the bristles on the carpet pile. It canalso be appreciated that the smooth glossy surfaces of the sides of thebristles will naturally have much less frictional resistance than thecutoff tips of the bristles. Accordingly, with this unique brush rollerconstruction for shaping the bristles and the carpet pile, a stallingresistance between the bristle tufts and the carpet being cleaned isprevented.

What I claim is:

I. An electric vacuum cleaner having a suction creating meanscomprising:

a. a suction nozzle connected to said suction creating means;

b. a generally cylindrical brush roller mounted for rotation in saidsuction nozzle, said roller including a generally flat surface disposedapproximately perpendicular to a radius of said roller, the trailingedge of said flat surface intersecting the generally cylindrical outersurface of said brush roller and the leading edge ofsaid generally flatsurface terminating in a wall extending substantially perpendicular tosaid flat surface;

c. a plurality of bristles mounted on the brush roller extendingoutwardly from the flat surface of said brush roller,

said bristles being located relatively close to said generallyperpendicular wall;

d. said generally perpendicular wall being generally parallel to saidplurality of bristles and extending from said flat surface to thegenerally cylindrical surface of said brush roller so that when a carpetbeing cleaned is sucked upwardly partially into said suction nozzle thecylindrical surface of said roller in the vicinity of said perpendicularwall contacts the carpet pile and the generally perpendicular wallprevents the carpet pile from contacting radi al inner portions of thebristles whereby the radial outer portions of the bristles in contactwith the carpet are bent toward the trailing edge of the flat surfacethereby preventing the brush from stalling due to the resistance of thebristles on the carpet pile.

2. An electric vacuum cleaner brush roller as defined in claim I whereinthe height of said generally perpendicular wall is approximatelyone-fourth the length of said bristles.

3. An electric vacuum cleaner brush roller as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid generally perpendicular wall is positioned approximatelythree-sixteenth inch from said brush bristles.

4. An electric vacuum cleaner brush roller as defined in claim I whereinthe distance from the radial inner portions of said brush bristles tothe trailing edge of said flat surface is approximately equal to thelength of said brush bristles so that when said brush bristles are benttoward the trailing edge of the flat surface they tend to lie partiallywithin the recess formed in said brush roller by said flat surface andsaid generally perpendicular wall.

5. An electric vacuum cleaner cylindrical brush roller as defined inclaim 1 wherein a pair of generally flat surfaces are cut into thegenerally cylindrical brush roller, said pair of flat surfaces arespirally arranged, and a plurality of tufts of bristles are positionedin radial apertures drilled in the flat surfaces.

6. An electric vacuum cleaner construction as defined in claim 1 whereinthe upper portion of said generally perpendicular wall and the generallycylindrical surface of said brush roller are rounded at the intersectionof said generally perpendicular wall with the cylindrical surface sothat a relatively smooth surface of the brush roller is moved on thecarpet being cleaned when the carpet is sucked upwardly into contactwith the brush roller.

1. An electric vacuum cleaner having a suction creating meanscomprising: a. a suction nozzle connected to said suction creatingmeans; b. a generally cylindrical brush roller mounted for rotation insaid suction nozzle, said roller including a generally flat surfacedisposed approximately perpendicular to a radius of said roller, thetrailing edge of said flat surface intersecting the generallycylindrical outer surface of said brush roller and the leading edge ofsaid generally flat surface terminating in a wall extendingsubstantially perpendicular to said flat surface; c. a plurality ofbristles mounted on the brush roller extending outwardly from the flatsurface of said brush roller, said bristles being located relativelyclose to said generally perpendicular wall; d. said generallyperpendicular wall being generally parallel to said plurality ofbristles and extending from said flat surface to the generallycylindrical surface of said brush roller so that when a carpet beingcleaned is sucked upwardly partially into said suction nozzle thecylindrical surface of said roller in the vicinity of said perpendicularwall contacts the carpet pile and the generally perpendicular wallprevents the carpet pile from contacting radial Inner portions of thebristles whereby the radial outer portions of the bristles in contactwith the carpet are bent toward the trailing edge of the flat surfacethereby preventing the brush from stalling due to the resistance of thebristles on the carpet pile.
 2. An electric vacuum cleaner brush rolleras defined in claim 1 wherein the height of said generally perpendicularwall is approximately one-fourth the length of said bristles.
 3. Anelectric vacuum cleaner brush roller as defined in claim 1 wherein saidgenerally perpendicular wall is positioned approximately three-sixteenthinch from said brush bristles.
 4. An electric vacuum cleaner brushroller as defined in claim 1 wherein the distance from the radial innerportions of said brush bristles to the trailing edge of said flatsurface is approximately equal to the length of said brush bristles sothat when said brush bristles are bent toward the trailing edge of theflat surface they tend to lie partially within the recess formed in saidbrush roller by said flat surface and said generally perpendicular wall.5. An electric vacuum cleaner cylindrical brush roller as defined inclaim 1 wherein a pair of generally flat surfaces are cut into thegenerally cylindrical brush roller, said pair of flat surfaces arespirally arranged, and a plurality of tufts of bristles are positionedin radial apertures drilled in the flat surfaces.
 6. An electric vacuumcleaner construction as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper portion ofsaid generally perpendicular wall and the generally cylindrical surfaceof said brush roller are rounded at the intersection of said generallyperpendicular wall with the cylindrical surface so that a relativelysmooth surface of the brush roller is moved on the carpet being cleanedwhen the carpet is sucked upwardly into contact with the brush roller.